SMETHPORT — Fifty years ago, the Smethport Public Library — now the Hamlin Memorial Library — moved out of the former school on West King Street to a new home in the basement of the Masonic Building on Church Street.

To mark this half-century of service to the borough and several townships, officials have planned a Birthday Bash at the 30th annual Hamlin Memorial Library’s Dinner Auction on March 11 at the Smethport Firehall. Doors open at 5 p.m., with dinner to follow at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $30 per person, which include appetizers, dinner and dessert. Reservations are limited.

The evening’s agenda includes bucket giveaways, a silent auction and games of chance. Among the donated items are pizzas, artwork, trips, a boat ride, antiques, jewelry, Karl Fitzsimmons’ woodworking and librarian Lori Rounsville’s contributions of two dozen cookies per month for a year.

Donations are tax deductible. Donations may be sent to the library. Contact the library at 887-9262 for items to be collected.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Rounsville, who has been librarian for more than 20 years. “We figure we raise almost a quarter of our budget from the event. Our patrons not only give us monetary donations, but we have several who regularly donated books and movies, and their donations help us to keep our collections current.”

Additional funds come from .4-mills from Smethport Borough, limited state budgets, contributions from Keating, Norwich and Sergeant townships and 5K Run and Walks organized by Debbie Rittberg and other volunteers.

In 1985, the library changed locations once again with a move to 111 West Main St., next to “America’s First Christmas Store,” and during that time the number of circulations and patrons increased significantly.

When that lease expired and the Christmas Store’s need for additional commercial space grew, the library was forced into yet another move.

By then, library directors, believing the library should have a permanent home, decided to purchase a 1.25-acre lot on South Mechanic Street. The cost of the new structure was estimated to be $225,000.

With funding from the Hamlin Foundation, the current facility took on its current name.

A new building offered several advantages. First, there would be adequate parking. Second, it would be a one-story building, so it would be handicap accessible. Third, and very important, there would be 3,000-square-feet of floor space, more than doubling the former facility, and allowing for collection development and future expansion.

That expansion occurred rapidly. Today, the library contains about 30,000 books, ranging from picture books to fiction and non-fiction, and subscribes to about 30 different magazines. Also offered are books on CDs and audiobooks available through Overdrive. Meanwhile, e-books are available through the library’s webpage. Art Camp, summer reading programs and Story Hour on Wednesdays are also included in the library’s offerings.

“If we don’t have a particular book, I can contact Warren, our district center, where the personnel are wonderful in tracking down a title,” said Rounsville.

The library also borrows books from throughout the state through Access PA.

As for the services offered at the library, there are tax forms, computers, wireless connectivity, and local newspaper archives, which are very popular.

“I’ve actually corresponded with people in several countries who have researched their family history with the help of the newspapers,” Rounsville said. “I believe the last person was from Sweden.”

Some travelers — often total strangers — passing through Smethport, who have read online about the newspaper archives, stop in to see microfilm versions to check facts on certain topics.

Every year, the library applies for Pennsylvania Council on the Arts funding to support special programs, such as art classes offered at night.

This year, some of those classes are knitting, silk scarf painting, and acrylic painting. A monthly Family Night, sponsored by the United Way and geared for early elementary children, features stories and a related craft.

Dr. Seuss’ birthday program is a part of the library’s March scheduled events.

In 2008-09, the library added a meeting room and children’s wing, a project that almost doubled the size of the building.

“The meeting room can be utilized by the entire community, and it’s almost always in use,” said Rounsville. “It’s amazing. There are no charges for non-profits to rent the new room. For birthdays, though, there is a fee, but we feel it’s pretty reasonable.”

Realizing that Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in promoting literacy, love of reading and access to various materials and resources and embracing new technology, Rounsville said, “Every day, I hope to dispel the rumor that libraries are not necessary. I think that with the onset of the internet, many people believe that’s the case.”